Menopause and perimenopause Archive

Insulin resistance is when the pancreas makes insulin but the body's cells don't use it efficiently. It becomes more common in women after age 50 due to hormonal shifts that change the way the body stores fat. It is a key step in the process of developing prediabetes and diabetes.

An endometrial biopsy is the only way to rule out endometrial (or uterine) cancer. Any vaginal bleeding a year or more after a woman's final period raises the possibility of uterine cancer. The biopsy involves using a suction tube to gather cells from the uterine lining.

After menopause, women develop heart failure at rates similar to men. But women tend to develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, which leads to more frequent hospitalizations. Women also have different risk factors for heart failure than men.

Musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause is a newly recognized condition that links falling estrogen levels to widespread joint and muscle pain, stiffness, fatigue, and other symptoms. Estrogen loss at midlife can also reduce muscle mass and bone density.

Women over 60 need less iron than they did before menopause, when they lost iron through menstruation. Many conditions can lead to iron loss and iron-deficiency anemia, when the body can't make enough red blood cells to properly carry oxygen throughout the body. Signs of iron deficiency include pale skin, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, and chest pain. Tests can reveal iron deficiency and underlying reasons for iron loss. People should not take iron supplements without checking with their doctor. Too much iron can damage organs.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM, was once called vaginal atrophy. But experts changed the name to better reflect the full scope of symptoms, which include vaginal thinning and dryness; burning, irritation, and itching; pain during intercourse; urinary issues such as increased urgency and frequency; and higher risk of urinary tract infections. The majority of women with GSM symptoms don't discuss it with their doctors. But a Harvard expert says they should, since GSM is progressive and can lead to dangerous problems.

A 2025 study identified poor sleep along with high blood pressure, nicotine use, and high blood sugar levels as particularly important factors increasing the long-term risk of heart problems for women in midlife.

An endometrial biopsy is the only way to rule out endometrial (or uterine) cancer. Any vaginal bleeding a year or more after a woman's final period raises the possibility of uterine cancer. The biopsy involves using a suction tube to gather cells from the uterine lining.

After an FDA panel was convened to review black box warnings on menopause hormone therapy, which includes both systemic and vaginal estrogen treatments, the FDA announced in November 2025 it would remove black box warnings from all hormone therapy products containing estrogen. Women considering hormone therapy should discuss their individual health risks with their doctor - such as a history of heart attack or stroke, a blood clot in the legs or lungs, hormone-sensitive cancer, active liver disease, and overall breast cancer and cardiovascular risks.

More than 10 million of the nation's 19 million cancer survivors are women, 80% of whom are 60 or older. Cancer survivors going through menopause may not be able to use systemic hormone therapy if their cancer was hormone-driven, but other measures can provide symptom relief. These include various medications and lifestyle modifications such as cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, acupuncture, and regular exercise. Some women who can't use systemic hormone therapy may still try vaginal estrogen to ease vaginal dryness, some urinary symptoms, or painful sex.